Study Finds Sharp Rise in Child E-Scooter Injuries in England

A study of three major children's trauma centres in England has revealed a sharp rise in electric scooter injuries among children, with researchers warning of an emerging public health crisis. The research, published in the Emergency Medicine Journal, identified 477 patients under the age of 16 treated for e-scooter related injuries between January 2019 and December 2024. The number of cases surged from fewer than 10 in 2019 to nearly 150 in 2024.

The average age of the injured children was 12, with half of all cases involving children aged between 10 and 13. Boys accounted for nearly two-thirds of the patients. The study, which examined data from major trauma centres in Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield, found that the vast majority of injuries were sustained by the rider, with only 5% involving pedestrians struck by a scooter.

A key finding was the overwhelming involvement of privately owned e-scooters, which are illegal to use on public roads, pavements, or other public spaces in the UK. Four out of five incidents involved such privately owned devices, despite the fact that more than half of all injuries occurred in public locations, including on roads, footpaths, and in...